FORGED for the Playoffs

Kettering Poolie · **Posted:** Sat Mar 29, 2025 10:51 pm

Success in reaching the Playoffs will be FORGED during the last 6 games by giving

Forest Green
Oldham
Rochdale
Gateshead
Ebbsfleet
Dagenham & Redbridge

1 hell of a beating!

Come On Pools- Nowt to Beat!
rolf

Leggie43 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:55 am **Posts:** 7286

I see a real change here if we continue to win games especially if the ones above keep up the piss poor form of late.
Ebbsfleet / Gateshead & Forest Green really could be 9 easy points for starters. Ebbsfleet 100% should be 3 points/ Gateshead 7 defeats on the bounce should be 3 also / F. Green no chance of winning the league but well clear of 4th place so will finish 2 but probably 3rd either way they will rest the best players and possibly the full 11 ready for the playoffs. This should also present us 3 points. The other all away games present the biggest threat to our late push. We should beat D & R then if we win one of the other 2 we end up on 67 points which this year may be enough due to the piss poor form of others in the run in and the possibility of a second spot to aim at. The question is could this lot win the lot and end on 70? I personally don't see that because that would be a unbelievable finish to any season. The odds are well stacked against us qualifying but far from impossible it may take another twist if either of Rochdale or Oldham settle for a guaranteed spot and rest players as opposed to moving higher up and risking a harder game against the teams above. It's all still " ifs and buts " even at this late stage. We all know when teams are sure of a place they then try to pick n choose the team they fancy playing as opposed to a lottery.

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36216

Leggie43 wrote:

I see a real change here if we continue to win games especially if the ones above keep up the piss poor form of late.
Ebbsfleet / Gateshead & Forest Green really could be 9 easy points for starters. Ebbsfleet 100% should be 3 points/ Gateshead 7 defeats on the bounce should be 3 also / F. Green no chance of winning the league but well clear of 4th place so will finish 2 but probably 3rd either way they will rest the best players and possibly the full 11 ready for the playoffs. This should also present us 3 points. The other all away games present the biggest threat to our late push. We should beat D & R then if we win one of the other 2 we end up on 67 points which this year may be enough due to the piss poor form of others in the run in and the possibility of a second spot to aim at. The question is could this lot win the lot and end on 70? I personally don't see that because that would be an unbelievable finish to any season. The odds are well stacked against us qualifying but far from impossible it may take another twist if either of Rochdale or Oldham settle for a guaranteed spot and rest players as opposed to moving higher up and risking a harder game against the teams above. It's all still " ifs and buts " even at this late stage. We all know when teams are sure of a place they then try to pick n choose the team they fancy playing as opposed to a lottery.

Aye, resting key players for the play offs can backfire badly as it sometimes affects the form of the team and the key players returning from a lay off for the sake of misguided tactics..,if a team is on a-roll, don’t disturb that rhythm for smart arse theories.

kevin pooles gloves · **Joined:** Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:28 pm **Posts:** 8838

After We Reached the play offs about 25 years ago.
We were 5 pts behind with 5 games to go.
Won all 5 with the last one at Exeter with 1000 Poolies in attendance.
Think we just pipped Shrewsbury on g/d

So when we win next week n Gateshead lose again.

It's back on.

Getting some quality game time from MagicManMaancini is key like.

UTP.

Mr Irrelevant · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 8:25 pm **Posts:** 22544

When all else fails a blind refusal to look facts in the face will see us through.

kevin pooles gloves · **Joined:** Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:28 pm **Posts:** 8838

Leggie43 wrote:

I see a real change here if we continue to win games especially if the ones above keep up the piss poor form of late.
Ebbsfleet / Gateshead & Forest Green really could be 9 easy points for starters. Ebbsfleet 100% should be 3 points/ Gateshead 7 defeats on the bounce should be 3 also / F. Green no chance of winning the league but well clear of 4th place so will finish 2 but probably 3rd either way they will rest the best players and possibly the full 11 ready for the playoffs. This should also present us 3 points. The other all away games present the biggest threat to our late push. We should beat D & R then if we win one of the other 2 we end up on 67 points which this year may be enough due to the piss poor form of others in the run in and the possibility of a second spot to aim at. The question is could this lot win the lot and end on 70? I personally don't see that because that would be a unbelievable finish to any season. The odds are well stacked against us qualifying but far from impossible it may take another twist if either of Rochdale or Oldham settle for a guaranteed spot and rest players as opposed to moving higher up and risking a harder game against the teams above. It's all still " ifs and buts " even at this late stage. We all know when teams are sure of a place they then try to pick n choose the team they fancy playing as opposed to a lottery.

With Gateshead v Southend last game.
It has to be 70 pts.
Basic Arithmetic Leggie

Flying Hogans · **Joined:** Tue Nov 05, 2019 10:29 pm **Posts:** 5341

Mr Irrelevant wrote:

When all else fails a blind refusal to look facts in the face will see us through.

Makes a change from the relegation talk a fortnight ago.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18751

feel at the end of the day if we had won even two of those drawn games we,d have made it. it might be too much to late in the end and have to rely on too many other sides cocking it up.

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 3843

Has the bunker been taken over by aliens? 2 wins on the bounce and all talk about the play offs?
Can't see it myself, although yesterday was a great example of grinding out a result without playing well (I'll admit I only saw the 2nd half). I think the present top 6 will finish pretty much as they are with Tamworth being the team with real momentum nicking 7th.
64 or 65 points for us.
As an insurance I hope Clearys loan is till the end of the play offs and not the end of the regular season just in case. What a joy it would be for us and him to see him taking defences apart on the Wembley pitch.

Flying Hogans · **Joined:** Tue Nov 05, 2019 10:29 pm **Posts:** 5341

accrington fan wrote:

feel at the end of the day if we had won even two of those drawn games we,d have made it. it might be too much to late in the end and have to rely on too many other sides cocking it up.

Pools' record at the minute is perfectly balanced - won 12, drawn 16, lost 12. Goals for 49, goals against 49, goal difference 0.

If we'd scored 1 extra goal in 4 of those drawn games we'd be on 60 points. When you think of the number of easy chances Pools have missed in drawn games in the last couple of months... but that's football.

MutleyRules · **Joined:** Mon Nov 29, 2021 7:38 am **Posts:** 919

Are you lot on drugs??

PTID · **Joined:** Wed Apr 26, 2023 3:07 pm **Posts:** 3843

Or if Lennie had been a bit bolder and tried to win games instead of not lose them?

Grayhoundend · **Joined:** Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:13 pm **Posts:** 6589

MutleyRules wrote:

Are you lot on drugs??

NO! You are Mutters, Above is all doom and gloom talking about relegation.
What the hell are you reading, I suggest :laugh:

You read again.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18751

PTID wrote:

Or if Lennie had been a bit bolder and tried to win games instead of not lose them?

and sarll had never set foot in the place as well. skippy knew from the outset that only wins will do meaning even more points were dropped in a near impossible task in front of him. what he would have done in lennies place we will never know unless he is still with us next season. for me the jury is still out on that.

Bluestreak · **Posted:** Sun Mar 30, 2025 11:18 am

Fingers crossed.

horden · **Posted:** Sun Mar 30, 2025 11:52 am

Think play offs are a bit of a stretch, but with Gateshead and Altrincham imploding, a late place could become available, which on current form would go to Tamworth, WTF is going on there?. We would need a run like they are having to finish 7th, even that might not be enough.

Leggie43 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:55 am **Posts:** 7286

PTID wrote:

Has the bunker been taken over by aliens? 2 wins on the bounce and all talk about the play offs?
Can't see it myself, although yesterday was a great example of grinding out a result without playing well (I'll admit I only saw the 2nd half). I think the present top 6 will finish pretty much as they are with Tamworth being the team with real momentum nicking 7th.
64 or 65 points for us.
As an insurance I hope Clearys loan is till the end of the play offs and not the end of the regular season just in case. What a joy it would be for us and him to see him taking defences apart on the Wembley pitch.

65 points is the figure I predicted and a 9th place finish and that was after the Boston win. I had Altrincham on 67 points 8th and Southend on 71 and 7th. I reckon after this week's results and some piss poor form from some of late. These teams are out Eastleigh / Gateshead / Sutton / Altrincham.
Top three won't drop any further down that leaves 4 places 4th 5th 6th & 7th. Rochdale / Oldham & Halifax take 3of those in my opinion. That leaves just one place left for the rest to fight over. Southend 40 played 59 points & Tamworth 40 played 57 points and both in form. Then I place Pools in the 3rd place of possibilities 40 - 52 but have a harder run in on paper and 5 and 7 points behind the two above. I reckon Southend will get 7th place. However if if if Halifax cannot complete then either Tamworth or Pools will fight it out for the bonus place. Again Tamworth should get in being 5 points clear of us. But if we win next home game Ebbsfleet & away at D & R ( 6 points takes us to 58 ) with 4 to play. Tamworth next two are Maidenhead away & Braintree home ( 3 points only takes them to 57 ) cas Maidenhead will beat them I believe. We would then be in the pole position to finish in the bonus place if if if it happens. Not over yet trust me...

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18751

mind you could be correct as the great escape was just pie in the sky for me as i never seriously thought that would happen even if its easier to do that with poorer teams at the bottom than the top. we should aim for 8th just in case halifax problems happen and the league not being the quickest to decide anything.

Leggie43 · **Joined:** Wed Apr 15, 2020 4:55 am **Posts:** 7286

accrington fan wrote:

mind you could be correct as the great escape was just pie in the sky for me as i never seriously thought that would happen even if its easier to do that with poorer teams at the bottom than the top. we should aim for 8th just in case halifax problems happen and the league not being the quickest to decide anything.

True Accy

Kettering Poolie · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2025 1:07 am

accrington fan wrote:

mind you could be correct as the great escape was just pie in the sky for me as i never seriously thought that would happen even if its easier to do that with poorer teams at the bottom than the top. we should aim for 8th just in case halifax problems happen and the league not being the quickest to decide anything.

That's a sensible suggestion on the face of it Accy. However we all know that should we finish 8th and Halifax get barred, they'll just give Halifax's potential opponents a bye through to the Semis. Where as if we finish 9th behind Tamworth, they'll undoubtedly take up the vacated place, to maintain the integrity of the competition!

Just like, if we did actually qualify and somehow scraped through to the Wembley final - the game would need to be hosted at an alternative venue (The Valley, Charlton) due to extenuating circumstances, like The England Women's Auxiliary Bowls Team playing an unforeseen vital European playoff qualifier on the hallowed turf instead. (due to Mabel having an angina attack which forced their original match to be abandoned!)

They couldn't play it on Peckham Common due to the Clubhouse being doubled booked by a Double Whammy- Line Dancing and Bingo followed by a sell out farewell tour for Disco Dave and the Sons of DogDirt.

Upon reading of their misfortune in the Metro free paper- a Wembley spokesperson (a woman) said 'With it being such an important fixture that has to be fulfilled, and now that Mabel is back to full fitness, we felt we just had to reach out to them.' She went on to say 'Its only little ol' 'artlepool- I'm confident that they'll understand!'
:angry-tappingfoot:

Snowy · **Joined:** Fri Aug 18, 2006 12:18 pm **Posts:** 36216

The play offs …if we pulled that one off I’d let Jamie streak up Church Street on a Friday night…preferably when I’m in Barrow….
Sadly the words ‘straws’ and ‘clutching’ come to mind but there’s always that daft Poolie thing with numbers that can never quite be quelled till reality confirms it
It’s genetic. :laugh:

billinghampoolie1908 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 05, 2015 5:52 pm **Posts:** 4373

Thing is even if we won all our remaining games which won't happen we would then get york away, then probobly have to beat forest green going to be one hell of a streak of wins considering we have only won 2 games in a row twice all season. Hopefully we actually beat ebbsfleet this time, then I guess it would then make the rochdale game interesting. Now if we won the next two and quite a few results went in our favour it might start getting close.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18751

billinghampoolie1908 wrote:

Thing is even if we won all our remaining games which won't happen we would then get york away, then probobly have to beat forest green going to be one hell of a streak of wins considering we have only won 2 games in a row twice all season. Hopefully we actually beat ebbsfleet this time, then I guess it would then make the rochdale game interesting. Now if we won the next two and quite a few results went in our favour it might start getting close.

if we actually did win all our remaining games i feel with that momentum behind us we could win the thing. we,d go into them in much better form than others who will have more mixed results. a run like that must have happened before in football even if the chances of us doing it are slim.

Kettering Poolie · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2025 9:02 am

Think if we can win the next two and some of the teams above drop points, they will start to wobble.
Realistically given the season we've had, we have no chance, so therefore we have nothing to lose, so should be able to play with freedom.

It's not really about what we do- it's whether the likes of Halifax, Rochdale and The Heed can get to 71 points in their remaining fixtures.

accrington fan · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 3:22 pm **Posts:** 18751

Kettering Poolie wrote:

accrington fan wrote:

mind you could be correct as the great escape was just pie in the sky for me as i never seriously thought that would happen even if its easier to do that with poorer teams at the bottom than the top. we should aim for 8th just in case halifax problems happen and the league not being the quickest to decide anything.

That's a sensible suggestion on the face of it Accy. However we all know that should we finish 8th and Halifax get barred, they'll just give Halifax's potential opponents a bye through to the Semis. Where as if we finish 9th behind Tamworth, they'll undoubtedly take up the vacated place, to maintain the integrity of the competition!

a few years back darlo got banned from entering the northern section play offs but cannot remember what decision the league made about the 8th placed club entering or darlo,s opponents getting a bye.

MutleyRules · **Joined:** Mon Nov 29, 2021 7:38 am **Posts:** 919

Play-Offs!?! :laugh:

Grayhoundend · **Joined:** Tue Aug 19, 2014 12:13 pm **Posts:** 6589

Think you lot are forgetting one thing.

If we got to the POffs and won they Raj would stay.

Kettering Poolie · **Posted:** Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:23 pm

Grayhoundend wrote:

Think you lot are forgetting one thing.

If we got to the POffs and won they Raj would stay.

Think we'll worry about that, after we've all sobered up!

kevin pooles gloves · **Joined:** Tue Oct 07, 2014 2:28 pm **Posts:** 8838

Favours off Sutton n Dagenham tomorrow and it's still alive.
But the Doomsters won't like that.
bbolt

FORGED for the Playoffs

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